Brake-handle



AUSTIN B. COLLETT, OF CHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE COLLETTCAR BRAKE COMPANY, OE PORTLAND, MAINE.

BRAKE-HANDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,142, dated April30, 1889.

' Application filed February 1, 1889- Serial No. 298,358. (N model.)

, eiently full, clear, anchexact to enable any person skilled in the artor science to which said 'invention appertains to make and use the'sidered as a whole.

same, reference being had to the accompany- 1ng drawings, forming partof this specifica- 5 tion, in which Figurel is an elevationof a portionof a horse-car dasher, showing a brake-rod provided with my improvedhandle in position for use; Fig. 2, an enlarged side elevation'of thehandle detached; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section of the same, and Fig. abottom plan View of the ratchet-block detached.

Like letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts inthe different figures of the drawings.

My invention relates especially to that class of brake-handles wherebythe brake maybe released without rotating said handle; and it consistsin certain novel features, as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed,the object being to produce a simpler, cheaper, and more effectivedevice of this character than is now in ordinary use.

The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understoodby all eouversant with such matters from the following explanation.

In the drawings, A represents the car-dasher, B the brake-rod, and Othe'brake-handle, con- The dasher and brake rod are constructed andarranged in the usual manner, said rod being provided with a ratchet, b,near the platform d, to which a retaming-pawl, f, is pivoted inengagement with said ratchet. The body 9 of the handle C consists of ametallic rod bent or curved upward at one end, forming a circular head,72., which may be readily grasped in the hand. The opposite end, i, ofthe handle is provided with a vertically-arranged circular chamber, m,in which a ratchet-block, D, is fitted to revolve. The block D is,provided centrally with a square socket, p, for receivingthe head q ofthe brake-rod, and peripherally with an annular groove, 1, into'whichthe inner end brake-handle, projects, whereby said block is securedwithin the chamber 112, but not prevented from revolving therein. Ahorizontal chamber, Q), is formed in the handle-body g, its inner endopening into the vertical chamher on. The ratchet-block D is providedperipherally with teeth w, registering with the mouth of said chamberwhen said block is in position. In the outer end of the chamber 1; asleeve, 00, is secured by a pin, y, and fitted to slide longitudinallyin said sleeve there is a horizontally-arranged bar, z, provided on itsinner end with a pallet, 70, adapted to engage the wheel to of theratchetblock. A coiled spring, Z, is disposed around the bar .2, betweenthe pallet k and sleeve w, said spring acting expansively to hold thepallet in engagement with said ratchet-block. A lever,- H, is pivoted at15 to the lower side of the handle-body g, near the head h, its long arm16 projecting outward under said head and having its outer surfacecurved to form a handle. The short arm 17 of the leveris provided with acircular opening, 18, through which the out-er end of the bar zprojects, said bar being screw-threaded and having a nut, 19, disposedthereon to prevent it from being withdrawn from said opening.

In the use of my improvement the ratchetblock D is adjusted on the headq of the brake-rod B. To set the brake, the handle B, instead of beingturned in a complete circle to revolve the brake-rod, aswhen theordinary handle is employed, is moved forward a partial revolution,carrying the rod B with it, by means of its pallet k. The handle is thendrawn back toward the operator, its pallet slipping over the teeth 10and again forced forward, these movements being repeated until the brakeis set. The ordinary pawl, f,

holds the rod B during the backward movement of the handle 0.

hen it is desired to release the brake, the arm 16 of the lever H iscompressed against the handle 0, thereby withdrawing the pallet It fromengagement with the ratchet-block. The pawl fbein g at the same timedisconnected I00 of a screw, t, passing through the body of the f fromits ratchet when it is desired to release the brake. Moreover, as thehandle is fixed on the brake-rod it revolves rapidly with it, frequentlystriking and injuring persons on the platform. These objections areentirely obviated by my improvement, and as a much shorter brake-chainconneetin g the rod 13 with the brake-beam of the car can be employedthe brake can be much more quickly set by its use than when handles ofthe ordinary construction are employed.

Instead of the horizontally-moving retaining-pawl f, an ordinary click,falling vertically onto the ratchet Z), may be used, if preferred.

Having thus explained my invention, what I claim is 1 1. In a brakehandle, a body provided with i a head at one end and a vertical chamberin its opposite end, a ratchet-block fitted to revolve in said chamberand provided with a socket for the brake-rod, a horizontal cham- 3 berin said body opening into the vertical chamber, a spring-actuated palletfitted to slide in said horizontal chamber, a lever pivoted to saidhandle, and a rod connecting one arm of said lever with the pallet,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2; In a brake-handle, a combination of a body having a vertical chamber,a ratchetblock fitted to revolve therein and provided with an annulargroove, a retaining-pin projecting from the handle into said groove, a

horizontal chamber opening into said vertical chamber, a pallet fittedto slide therein, a sleeve in the outer end thereof, a spring betweensaid sleeve and pallet for holding it in engagement with said ratchet, arod secured to said pallet and sliding in said sleeve, and a lever 011said handle, one arm of which is secured to the outer end of said rod,substantially as described.

In a device of the character described, the combination of a brake-rodprovided with a ratchet-wheel, a click for said wheel, a handle providedwith a vertical chamber, a ratchet-block fitted to revolve therein andprovided with a socket for the brake-rod, a horizontal chamber, aspring-actuated pallet therein in engagementwith said ratchetbloek, anda rod fastened by one end to said pallet, its opposite end being movablysecured in an arm of a lever pivot-ed to said handle, substantial] y asdescribed.

4. The brake-handle C, comprising the body g, provided with the head 7:and chamberm v, the ratchet-block D, fitted to revolve in the chamber mand provided with the socket the rod .2, provided with the pallet 7c,disposed in the chamber 4*, the spring 7, for actuating said pallet, andthe lever Ii, pivoted to said body and provided with the opening 18, inwhich the outer endof said rod is secured, substantially as described.

5. The brake-rod B, provided with the wheel I) and head q, incombination with the click f, the handle t, comprising the body g,having the head h and chambers on v, the ratchet-block 1), fitted torevolve in the chamber m and provided with the socket j), the

pallet 7r, disposed in the chamber r, the sleeve 00, the lever II,pivoted to said body and provided with the opening 18, the rod 2, fittedto slide in said sleeve and secured to said pallet, and the spring I,disposed in the chamber 27, substantially as described.

AUSTIN B. COLLET'J. \Vitnesses:

K. DURFEE, O. M. SHAw.

